£266k digital skills boost for Oldham residents

Oldham residents are set to benefit from a £266,000 digital skills boost after the council secured funding to tackle the digital divide. The Get Oldham Working service has been awarded the money from the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to launch GOW Digital, a programme designed to help people develop essential online skills and access technology.

The funding will create two Digital Inclusion Hubs at Get Oldham Working offices and a Mobile Digital Hub that will travel to community venues across the borough. Councillor Abdul Jabbar, deputy leader of Oldham Council, said the programme is about more than just providing devices-it's about building confidence and independence.

Over 400 laptops will be given to residents who complete agreed learning activities, while 30 Digital Champions will be trained to volunteer in their communities. The Mobile Digital Hub will visit venues including Access Oldham, SAWN, Millennium Centre, Fatima Women's Association, and Oasis Academy.

Digital Cafe drop-in sessions will also be available for informal support with online services and job applications. The project aims to make Oldham one of the most digitally inclusive towns in the UK and supports the national digital inclusion agenda.